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Transfers: Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga departs Chelsea for Arsenal

Kepa Arrizabalaga in his new home at the Emirates Stadium
Kepa Arrizabalaga in his new home at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.

The 30-year-old Spaniard spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, making 35 appearances in all competitions.

Arsenal had brought in Neto from the Cherries as back-up to David Raya, but the Brazilian has returned to the Cherries following the end of his own season-long loan.

Kepa, who spent the 2023/24 campaign at Real Madrid, has signed a three-year deal.

The fee is reported to be around £5million, with the transfer subject to the completion of regulatory processes.

"I'm really, really happy to be here, really excited and looking forward to what is coming," Kepa told Arsenal's website.

"The ambition that is shown in this club, when I talk with Mikel (Arteta) and (goalkeeping coach) Inaki (Cana), how much they show me their desire to win, I think we are so close to winning and, hopefully, altogether, we can achieve it."

Kepa became the world's most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in a £71m deal during the summer of 2018, going on to win the Europa League and Champions League with the Blues as well as the 2023 UEFA Nations League with Spain.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is confident Kepa will provide plenty of competition for his compatriot Raya.

"He is a player we know, having come up against him many times in recent seasons," Arteta said. "He brings a wealth of experience, which his team-mates will benefit from, and he has a real hunger to win.

"Kepa works hard and will elevate our levels. I know he will fit in perfectly, already knowing some of his team-mates, and we are really excited about his future with us."

Arsenal also appear to be closing in on deals for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard and Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi.

The Gunners are in need of midfield reinforcements, with Thomas Partey having become a free agent after his contract expired and Jorginho also leaving the club earlier this month to join Brazilian club Flamengo.

Elsewhere striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has completed a permanent move to Wolves, having spent last season on loan at Molineux from Celta Vigo.

The Norway international has signed a four-year deal with the club.

The 25-year-old impressed in his first season in the Premier League, scoring 14 times to help steer Wolves away from the relegation zone. He met certain clauses in his loan contract which automatically made his move to Molineux permanent.

Sunderland have announced the signing of midfielder Habib Diarra on a five-year contract.

The 21-year-old played an important part for Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg side last season, where he captained the team and made 31 appearances as they secured a seventh-placed finish in Ligue 1.

Diarra has been capped 11 times for Senegal and was on the scoresheet during their friendly win against England at the City Ground in June.

"I’m happy and excited to become a Black Cat and I can’t wait to discover the Stadium of Light and its fans," Diarra told the club website.

Habib Diarra of Senegal has his shot blocked by Killian Phillips of Republic of Ireland during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Senegal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Habib Diarra has his shot blocked by Ireland midfielder Killian Phillips during Senegal's June friendly at Aviva Stadium

"Everyone saw last season’s success and I guarantee that I’ll give everything for this team and fight for these colours in the Premier League. I’m ready for this challenge and I can’t wait to get started."

Ahead of Sunderland’s return to the Premier League, Diarra becomes their second summer arrival after the club permanently signed midfielder Enzo Le Fee, who spent the second half of last season on Wearside on loan from Roma.

Leeds have raided Wolfsburg for the second time in just over a fortnight as the Premier League newcomers announced the signing of Sebastiaan Bornauw.

The Belgian centre-back, capped four times by his country, is set to swap the Bundesliga for the English top flight after signing a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

He is Leeds' third summer signing and second from Wolfsburg, following last month's acquisition of Lukas Nmecha, who had been a team-mate of Bornauw in Germany for the past four years.

The 26-year-old is the second defender to join Leeds following their promotion from the Championship, with Jaka Bijol making the move from Udinese to West Yorkshire last month.

Earlier, Leeds announced defender Junior Firpo had left Elland Road as a free agent upon the expiry of his contract.

The 28-year-old left-back made 119 appearances for the Whites in all competitions after arriving in a £13 million deal from Barcelona in 2021.

Celtic have announced Greg Taylor has joined Greek side PAOK.

The 27-year-old Scotland left-back has left Parkhead at the end of his contract, although manager Brendan Rodgers was keen to keep him despite Kieran Tierney's return from Arsenal.

Taylor joined the Hoops from Kilmarnock in 2019 and won five William Hill Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups, including the domestic treble in 2022/23.

He made 216 appearances for Celtic, scoring nine goals.

Antoine Semenyo has signed a new five-year contract with Bournemouth.

The 25-year-old forward joined the Cherries from Bristol City in January 2023 and has made 89 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Last season Semenyo played an important part in helping Bournemouth secure ninth place - their joint-highest Premier League finish - by scoring 11 goals in 37 league appearances, taking his season tally to 13 goals and seven assists across all competitions.

That saw him linked with the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle, with a possible fee of around £70m (€81.6m) rumoured.

But after signing a new deal running until summer 2030, Semenyo told the Bournemouth website: "I've grown so much at the club, both on and off the pitch, and I'm really happy to have signed ahead of returning for pre-season.

"From the fans to the staff and my team-mates, I can't speak highly enough of the people around the club. It's a great place to be and I'm excited to get back to Bournemouth and continue the hard work with the new season just around the corner."

Kenny Tete (above) has signed a new contract with Fulham that will keep him at Craven Cottage until 2028, with the club holding a one-year option to extend it further.

The Netherlands international, 29, was out of contract this summer and had been widely linked with a free transfer to Everton, but will instead extend his stay in west London, having joined Fulham from Lyon in 2020.

"I'm really happy to have signed, for myself and for my family, and I hope I can give more for the fans in these three years," Tete said on the club’s website.

"After my first year I knew this was a family club, a really special club where I can develop. I want to be part of this group, and hopefully we can push for more."

The right-back suffered relegation to the Championship in his first season with Fulham but helped them immediately bounce back and has so far made 121 appearances for the club, scoring four goals with 10 assists.

Fulham director of football Tony Khan said: "Under Marco’s (Silva) great leadership, Kenny is an integral player in the team. We are all very keen for him to stay with us, and I’m pleased that is now a long-term commitment, as we continue to prepare for another successful Premier League campaign."

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